Slide Show | March 2013

10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

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If you have a refund check coming your way, consider using it to bolster your personal balance sheet. The average refund has been around $3,000 for the past two years (most people receive their refund within three weeks of filing their returns). That's a nice chunk of change. Here are ten good things you could do with the money.

If your refund was substantial, consider giving yourself an immediate raise by adjusting your tax withholding to increase your take-home pay. Use our Tax Withholding Calculator to figure out how many allowances you should claim.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Pay Off Credit-Card Debt

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Using your refund to pay off a balance with an 18% interest rate is like earning 18% on your investments -- an incredibly valuable use of the money. And if you pay off your balances, you can afford to close some cards that are now charging high fees. For more information, see Close a Credit-Card Account to Avoid Fees.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Rebuild Your Emergency Fund

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Many people have raided their emergency fund over the past several years and have had little extra money to restore it. You could use your refund to start rebuilding that fund, which can help you avoid landing in credit-card debt if you have an emergency. Keep the money easily accessible in a money-market account or savings account that earns interest. See 7 Strategies to Build an Emergency Fund for more information.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Boost Retirement Savings

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You can contribute up to $5,500 to an IRA for 2014 (or $6,500 if 50 or older) -- and withdraw the money tax-free in retirement. You can contribute the full $5,500 as long as your income falls below $114,000 if you're single, and $181,000 if you're married filing a joint tax return. The contribution limit is then phased out incrementally if you make between $114,000 and $129,000 (single) or $181,000 and $191,000 (married-joint). If you work and your spouse does not, you can also contribute to a Roth IRA in his or her name if your joint income is within those limits (see Often Overlooked Opportunities to Save in a Roth IRA). If you earn too much for a Roth, you can contribute to a nondeductible traditional IRA, then convert it to a Roth.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Fund a Taxable Account

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Use the extra cash to buy shares in a mutual fund or stock you’ve been considering -- but may feel is too risky for your IRA or not available in your 401(k) plan. Consider one of our 25 favorite no-load funds for your portfolio. Before you settle on individual stocks, consult our Stock Watch columns.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Fill Gaps in Your Insurance

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Liability Insurance. Cover your legal expenses if someone is hurt in your home or by your car. It generally costs just $175 to $300 to buy a personal umbrella policy that provides $1 million in coverage over the limits of your auto- and homeowners-insurance policies. See How to Add a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy for more information.

Home insurance. Hurricane season starts in June, so it's a perfect time to use some of your refund money to protect your home. For about $50, you can add $10,000 to $20,000 in sewage backup coverage -- which isn't part of a standard homeowners policy. Consider buying a home generator: A 6.5 kw portable generator costs about $800 to $1,000. An automatic standby generator costs more than your refund (about $4,000 plus $3,500 for installation), but the money you get from Uncle Sam can hep you start saving for one. You also can pay to trim your trees to help protect against some of the most common types of storm damage and put together a disaster kit. See Prepare Your Home for Storm Season for more ideas.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Build Your College Savings

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It’s always hard to juggle saving for college and retirement. Here’s an opportunity to use your extra money to contribute to a 529 account. You’ll be able to use the money tax-free for college bills, and you could get a state income-tax deduction for your contribution. See 529 Plan FAQs for details.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Help Your Kid Save

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You can use the extra money to contribute to a Roth IRA for your child. Your kid is eligible as long as he or she has earned income -- from mowing yards or babysitting, for example. Your child can contribute up to $5,500 or the amount of his or her earned income for the year, whichever is lower, and you can give him the cash to do it.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Prepay Your Vacation

Set aside some money for vacation rather than using your credit card and paying interest long after you have returned. Stash your refund in a separate account (see Why You Need Multiple Accounts), then add money automatically every week. You could also set up the account for other expenses -- such as a new car or holiday gifts.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Invest in Your Home

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Your refund won’t be enough to redo your kitchen or bathroom, but it can pay for some smaller home improvements. Use the extra cash to add a backsplash, paint a room or cabinets, replace your bathroom sink, swap out your faucets, organize a closet, install a programmable thermostat or spruce up your yard. Here are 9 ways to add space and value to your home for $1,000 or less.

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10 Smart Uses for Your Tax Refund

Give to Others

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If you have your financial bases covered, consider using your refund to make a charitable contribution to help others in need. You’ll feel good -- and you’ll be rewarded for your good deed when you file your tax return in 2014 (charitable contributions are deductible if you itemize). See 6 Things to Know About Giving to Charity to learn more about choosing the right charity and Smarter Ways to Give to Charity for strategies that will allow your giving to have the maximum impact.

You also can use your refund to help accumulate enough money to open up a donor-advised fund. Most funds require a minimum of $5,000 to $10,000. You can claim a tax deduction in the year you make a contribution to the fund, but you have an almost unlimited amount of time to decide which charities to support.